Days after a US Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jet shot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon, the Biden administration informed that the latter was equipped with sensors and antennas to collect communications and intelligence.
According to a senior State Department official, the surveillance balloon carried multiple antennas capable of “pinpointing the location of communications.” Besides, it was equipped with large solar panels to provide power to intelligence collection sensors.
Meanwhile, officials from Pentagon testified before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee and informed that they did not deem the Chinese surveillance balloon a threat when it crossed Alaska.
They further added that no analysis was done about the debris that would fall if the balloon was shot down. The officials emphasised that the risk to civilians on the ground was ‘considerable’ as the surveillance balloon was 200 feet tall.
On Thursday (February 9), senior Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials said that a forensic examination of the debris was underway and that they had only examined small electronics, wiring and the balloon canopy until then.
The debris, now lying in the Atlantic Ocean, is being transported to an FBI laboratory to discard the saltwater and process it for further examination.
Action against manufacturers of Chinese surveillance balloon
The United States government is also mulling action again companies and entities, responsible for the development of the Chinese surveillance balloon programme, which has allegedly spied on 40 countries across 5 continents.
Reportedly, a total of 6 Chinese companies with ties to the Communist government are behind the programme. The Biden administration is planning to add them to the entities list of the Commerce Department and prevent businesses from working with them.
An official informed, “The company also advertises balloon products on its website and hosts videos from past flights, which appear to have overflown at least the US airspace and airspace of other countries. These advertised balloon videos seemingly have similar flight patterns as the balloons we have been discussing this week.”
Reactions of US lawmakers to the fiasco
While speaking about the matter, Republican Senator Kevin Cramer said, “I’m confident that they did everything they’re supposed to, based on what they knew and what historical information they had…So I’m satisfied with that much.”
Meanwhile, all US lawmakers are not convinced with the manner the said foreign aggression was handled. Senator Lisa Murkowski said, “At what point do we say a surveillance balloon, a spy balloon coming from China is a threat to our sovereignty? It should be the minute it crosses the line, and that line is Alaska.”
The Background of the Controversy
The Pentagon announced on February 2 this year that it was tracking a Chinese spy balloon that was floating high over the United States. The incident accelerated tensions between the two sides.
According to defence authorities, the balloon has been monitored for a few days after it entered US territory and began flying at a great height.
It has been traced recently when it passed over Montana, which is home to some of the US’s silo-based nuclear missiles and has been observed using a variety of techniques, including manned planes. Flights from Billings Logan airport were halted on Wednesday out of caution.
Another spy balloon was spotted flying in the skies of Latin America on February 3. In a statement, Brigadier General Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson said, “We are seeing reports of a balloon transiting Latin America. We now assess it as another Chinese surveillance balloon.”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Antony Blinken postponed his visit to Beijing in response to a separate high-altitude Chinese balloon intruding into US airspace.
On February 4 afternoon, an US Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jet shot down the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon, which had become the bone of contention between the two countries.
On the 2nd of February 2023, Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) filed a chargesheet against 5 PFI terrorists, who were arrested during nationwide raids against the proscribed Islamic organisation, for being involved in unlawful activities and conspiracy against the nation. The five accused – Mazhar Khan, Sadiq Shaikh, Mohammad Iqbal Khan, Momin Mistry and Aasif Hussain Khan were arrested by the Mumbai unit of the Maharashtra ATS for their association with PFI.
The 5, who have now been chargesheeted, were among 20 others who were arrested by Maharashtra ATS. Over 100 terrorists associated with PFI have been arrested by multiple agencies since the crackdown against PFI started.
The chargesheet filed against the 5 accused by Maharashtra ATS spans over 600 pages and details how the accused were working towards turning India into an Islamic nation by 2047. The Vision 2047 document, which was detailed exclusively by OpIndia back in July 2022 was also attached in the chargesheet as a document recovered from the accused during raids.
The chargesheet contains chilling details of the nefarious designs by the PFI and how its operatives were working to fulfil those plans.
The chargesheet makes the following revelations about the 5 accused, who were office bearers of PFI:
PFI and the Islamists working with the terror organisation were conspiring against the state.
Secret meetings were held by PFI members at Chembur, Dharavi, Kurla, Thane, Nerul, Panvel and Mumbra in Maharashtra. In these meetings, they planned how to work against the state and also hatched theories to radicalise Muslims and turn India into an Islamic Nation by 2047.
PFI had planned to induct Muslims, convince them that the state was working against Islam and mobilise them against Hindus.
PFI intended to work towards replacing the Constitution of India with Islamic Sharia.
They wanted to turn India into an Islamic State.
They wanted Muslims to only be identified as ‘Muslims’ and not Indians.
PFI pushed the propaganda of Muslims being in danger and atrocities being heaped upon them. Using this trope, they wanted to train Muslims to use arms.
PFI wanted to raise money and take help from foreign organisations to subvert Indian democracy and fulful their plans to turn India into an Islamic Nation.
Two of the accused had knowledge of law and would guide the team accordingly.
One of the accused was against the task of recruiting Muslim youth.
How PFI was spreading propaganda about Agnipath being a scheme for “Muslim genocide”
One of the chats accessed by ATS from the accused had a write-up where the Agnipath scheme was branded as a tool for “Muslim genocide”. The message was from one Danish Malik. This propaganda was also being used by the PFI to mobilise Muslims against the Indian state.
The message was titled, “Agnipath ya Sanghiyo ki bandar sena” (Agnipath or an army of monkeys by Sanghis).
The message said that the Agnipath scheme would recruit Hindus between the ages of 17 and 21, and impart arms training and army training to them. After their 5 years stint in the army, they would be walking, out in the world, with arms training. The Agnipath scheme was likened to “Satan Israel like policy” where in every corner of the country, Hindus with army training would form groups. “This would be an army of rioters, who, because of their army training, would not run away if push comes to shove”, the message said.
The message claimed that the Agnipath scheme was an extension of the RSS module where they imparted arms training to Hindus. Much like the Israel policy, this employment scheme would train Hindus to commit genocide against Muslims and that campaign had already started with the Agnipath scheme, claimed the PFI message.
Chat recovered from arrested PFI terrorists
The message stated that there were four reasons because of which the Agnipath scheme was introduced by the army:
“Sanghis” (Hindus) can’t deploy the Indian army against Muslims.
If they did, the border security would be weakened.
The “Sanghis” (Hindus) would get globally shamed if they deployed the army against Muslims, just like the Myanmar army was shamed because of their “genocide” of Rohingya Muslims.
They also believed that Hindus would not deploy the Army against Muslims because if the Army gets organised, they could potentially unseat PM Modi and assume power themselves, and this would not be new since it has happened in many countries earlier.
According to PFI, these are the reasons why the “Sanghis” would not deploy the Indian Army against Muslims directly but have introduced the Agnipath scheme so they can train Hindus to commit genocide against the Muslims.
The message further said that all Muslims, Sunnis, Wahabbis, Shias etc should unite and take employment under the Agnipath scheme.
“If you are a Sunni, then like Hamas, if you are a Wahhabi, then like Jihadi Islami (they are probably talking about Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, which is affiliated with Al Qaeda and Taliban), if you are a Shia, then like Hezbollah, you have to come to the field. The time is limited. Muslim youth need to join this very scheme in this very manner to get the training and the job under this scheme”. The message further says that though Muslims should get enrolled in Agnipath, the chances that they would recruit Muslims are less because this scheme has been made explicitly by those who oppose Islam. The message further says that if Muslims enrol in this scheme, they could make a “Shero ki Sena” that will benefit the nation.
Given that PFI’s exclusive aim was to turn India into an Islamic Nation by 2047, the aim of the message is also clear. With the reference to terror organisations, PFI aimed to tell Muslims that the Agnipath scheme was made by the enemies of Islam to train Hindus so that if push comes to shove, the Hindus would be trained and would not flee the fight. Further, they wanted more and more Muslims to enrol in the scheme so that they could benefit from the arms training and also, create an army of their own.
It is pertinent to note that on June 24 2022, it was reported that an Islamic organisation named ‘The Association of Muslim Professionals’ (AMP) appealed to Muslim youth to join the armed forces under the newly launched ‘Agnipath’ scheme. “We support the Central government’s Agnipath scheme also like other ones. Our message will be passed on to eligible Muslim youths by noted clerics and Imams of mosques in various cities. A special appeal will be made for this by them in the Friday prayers,” it was quoted as saying.
President of the organisation, Aamir Edresy, had in the past cast aspersions against the Indian army and propagated divisive views. The Director of the Association of Muslim Professionals, Aamir Edresy had been a vocal proponent of Islamist ideas. In 2015, he was seen endorsing an article by the leftist propaganda news outlet, The Hindu, which termed the hanging of terrorist Yakub Memon as ‘inhuman’ and ‘unconscionable.’
Following the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in August 2015, the Gulf nation allotted land for the construction of the first Hindu temple. Dismayed by the development, Aamir Edresy had raked up the dispute surrounding the Babri Masjid.
“There are a lack of Masjids in India too and one of them is Babri Masjid,” he had tweeted. As per estimates, India is home to about 3 lakh mosques. Instead of questioning the lack of temples in the UAE, Edresy raked up the issue of the demolished Babri Masjid to draw false equivalences.
Interestingly, over 300 mosques in Kanpur, where Islamists unleashed mayhem under the pretext of blasphemy, had also appealed to the Muslim youth to become Agniveers.
Following the union government’s unveiling of the Agniveer scheme in cooperation with all three armed forces, throngs of ‘youth’ protestors rushed to the streets and vandalized public property under the guise of ‘protests’ and marches. So-called armed forces aspirants damaged public property, set fire to trains, and brought life to a standstill in various Indian states, demanding that the government scheme be reversed. In Bihar, a school bus carrying small kids and teachers was also attacked.
Mission 2047 document
The document ‘India Vision 2047’ or ‘Mission 2047’ aims at destabilizing the well-developed infrastructure of the Indian sub-continent and establishing Islamic dominance over the ‘coward Hindus’ and subjugating them. It underlines the goal of the organization to establish the ‘Rule of Islam in India’ and to bring the Indian State and the majority of Hindus ‘to their knees’ when the country would complete its 100 years of Independence.
It aims at targeting Hindus and Hindu leaders to gain control over the country belonging to Hindus, popularly known as Gajwa-e-Hind. Gajwa-e-Hind refers to launching an attack on Hindustan and winning over non-Muslims by killing them or forcing them to convert to Islam. Such a war is executed to win over the ‘infidels’ and is called Gajwa.
The Union Government on Thursday said that 5.9 million tonnes of lithium reserves have been found for the first time in the country in Jammu and Kashmir.
Lithium is a non-ferrous metal and is one of the key components in EV batteries. “Geological Survey of India for the first time established Lithium inferred resources (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes in the Salal-Haimana area of the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir,” the Ministry of Mines said on Thursday.
It further that 51 mineral blocks including Lithium and Gold were handed over to respective state governments. “Out of these 51 mineral blocks, 5 blocks pertain to gold and other blocks pertain to commodities like potash, molybdenum, base metals etc. spread across 11 states of Jammu and Kashmir (UT), Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana,” the ministry added.
The blocks were prepared based on the work carried out by GSI from field seasons 2018-19 to till date. Apart from these, 17 reports of Coal and Lignite with a total resource of 7897 million tonnes were also handed over to the Ministry of Coal.
Seven Publications on different themes and intervention areas in which GSI operates were also released during the meeting.
“The proposed Annual Programme for the ensuing Field Season 2023-24 was presented and discussed during the meeting. During the ensuing year 2023-24, GSI is taking up 966 programmes comprising 318 mineral exploration projects including 12 marine mineral investigation projects,” the ministry further said.
The Geological Survey of India has formulated 115 projects on strategic and critical minerals and 16 projects on fertiliser minerals.
“55 programmes on geoinformatics, 140 programmes on fundamental and multidisciplinary geosciences, and 155 programs for training and institutional capacity building have also been taken up,” the Mines ministry stated.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) was established in 1851 to find coal deposits for the Railways. Over the years, GSI has not only grown into a repository of geo-science information required in various fields in the country but has also attained the status of a geo-scientific organisation of international repute.
Its main functions relate to creating and updating of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment. These objectives are achieved through ground surveys, air-borne and marine surveys, mineral prospecting and investigations, multi-disciplinary geoscientific, geo-technical, geo-environmental and natural hazards studies, glaciology, seismo-tectonic study and carrying out fundamental research.
GSI’s chief role includes providing objective, impartial and up-to-date geological expertise and geoscientific information of all kinds, with a focus on policy-making decisions, and commercial and socio-economic needs.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Thursday, February 9, Meghalaya Police stated that at least 31 supporters of the National People’s Party and the opposition TMC were arrested in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills region for their alleged participation in pre-election violence earlier this week.
A police officer said that the people who were arrested were “part of a gang” that caused a disturbance on Tuesday night in Charbatapara village, 46 Phulbari assembly constituency.
SP Vivekanand Singh told PTI, “We have arrested 31 people: 16 TMC supporters and 15 NPP workers.
Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor stated that 399 polling stations have been deemed “critical,” while 747 have been identified as “vulnerable.”
119 companies of the central forces would be deployed for the assembly elections, Kharkongor added.
Notably, the election for the 60 members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly is slated to take place in Meghalaya on February 27, 2023. The counting of votes will be conducted on March 2. Nominations have been submitted by 379 candidates, including 60 sitting MLAs. FR Kharkongor, the chief electoral officer for Meghalaya, said that 37 women had also submitted their nominations for the state’s 60-member Assembly.
Meanwhile, the National People’s Party (NPP) and United Democratic Party (UDP) have received a show-cause notice from the Election Commission of India after it was alleged that their candidates in the West Shillong constituency distributed pressure cookers and bowl sets to voters which goes in violation of the model code of conduct.
The Khalistan referendum held in Melbourne was an eye-opening incident for the world. Many Australians saw the aggressive and dangerous side of the so-called peace-loving Khalistani organisations in Australia, which often masquerade as charity organisations. They not only vandalised three big Hindu temples but also brutally attacked Indian protestors for holding Indian Tiranga at Federation Square.
I am one of the eyewitnesses to this drama which unfolded on the referendum day. But what surprised me is that the Indian diaspora in Australia and some in India were criticizing Hindu groups for holding the rally at federation square. Not only that but the Indian diaspora is also being criticised for holding the Indian flag. They even blamed the guys who got injured in an attack by Khalistanis while preventing the disrespect that the Indian flag was receiving. Their arguments are that the Hindu people should not have provoked the aggressive Khalistanis, and should have let the referendum happen. These arguments and verbal attacks on people who chose to stand up against this illegal separatist movement made me recall my history lessons on the Indian independence movement against colonial invaders.
In 150 years of colonial rule in India, millions of Indians lost their lives during the independence movement. One must understand that these people were not trained fighters but innocent civilians who willingly participated to regain their freedom. They knew very well about the dangers of fighting against the armed colonial rulers. Even though they chose to fight in whatever way they could instead of running away or surrendering. Indian history documents many such brave fighters such as Shirishkumar, Bhagat Singh, Khudiram bose, Shivdevi Tomar and many others. Detailed information about these brave people can be found in the book “Saffron Swords” by Manoshi Sinha Rawal and Yogaditya Sinha Rawal.
One of the excerpts from Khalistan Referendum guidance document distributed publicly on 29th January in Federation Square
Within 75 years of Indian Independence, it seems that the consciousness of the Indian Independence struggle is fading away in first-generation overseas Indians (1st members of the family who have travelled outside India). The majority of the Indian diaspora who have benefited from Indian passports now feel that it was pointless to show off the Indian flag at a public place like Federation Square on 29th January 2023. They have been distancing themselves from “Indian/Hindu social safety” issues arising on foreign lands.
It is unsurprising that Khalistanis peddle misleading information about Guru Nanak (Figure 1), the founder of the Sikh sect, as an anti-Hindu, when in fact he and all Sikh gurus, were staunch believers of the supreme Goddess Durga. What is surprising is that a lot of the Indian diasporas, due to intellectual laziness, believe in the Khalistani propaganda. Another misleading idea that is projected is that “all the Sikh gurus were enemies of Brahmins”. The truth, however, is far from it. The Khalistanis will never tell people that the Mohyal Brahmins form the backbone of the Sikh movement throughout its existence.
Bhindranwale as a Saint (and equal to Sikhgurus in stature) is also a misinformation spread by Khalistanis, as indicated in the guidance document distributed publicly by Khalistanis on 29th January in Federation Square
Another fact that Khalistanis conveniently do not talk about is why Bhindranwale and his militia were killed by the Indian Army. Before and after 1984, when Bhindranwale was killed by the Indian Army, his militia had killed more than 22,000 Hindus and Sikhs all across the world, far greater than what Al Qaeda has killed in its entire existence. Bhindranwale had publicly promised to kill 5,000 Hindus.
The rally with Indian flags only wanted to convey the pain of these Indians of not wanting further partitions and the horrors similar to that of 1947 which caused the death of 3 million people, and thousands more since the rise of Bhindranwale and his cult. Furthermore, Khalistani infiltration into the Sikh community is making the everyday lives of Sikhs miserable as collateral damage towards their hatred of Hindus. The rally exposed this hatred of Khalistanis towards global Sikh and Hindu communities. Many videos by Khalistanis were seen on social media abusing Kikhs celebrating the Indian Republic Day.
Indian diaspora who downplay Indians carrying out flag rallies must understand that they are not only encouraging Khalistanis to bully others but also inviting further trouble for themselves in terms of future public safety. Such absurd reactions by the diaspora will stop Australian policymakers from raising Hindu voices in the Parliament. I would like to request all Indians to revisit their history and take inspiration from it to fight against these evils together. The Khalistani cult has a history of terrorising people across the globe (e.g., the Air India Kanishka bombing, 1989) irrespective of who they are. In this context, they are one of the most significant dangers to the peace in Australian society at large and must be stopped before they become a significant public menace.
The power of Hindu unity came true in the NCP-ruled town of Baramati in Maharashtra as thousands of Hindus from different sects participated in the Hindu Janjagruti Morcha organized on Thursday. More than 5000 Hindu participants joined in the rally and demanded a law against the forceful religious conversion in the state of Maharashtra.
The rally was organized by Sakal Hindu Samaj in Baramati and witnessed a massive presence of Hindus who raised slogans like, “Jai Shree Ram”, “Har Ghar Bhagwa Chayega, Ram Rajya fir ayega”, and “Vande Mataram”. Covering four main crossovers in the city, the participants demanded stricter laws against forceful religious conversion and cow slaughter. The Hindus also demanded that the Hindu religious places shall be allowed to maintain their sanctity and should not be given the status of tourist spots. It is notable that such rallies are being held in various towns and cities in Maharashtra, including Mumbai.
The rally was graced by the presence of Kalicharan Maharaj, who donned a red robe with a round tilak on his head. Kalicharan Maharaj who is a Shiv and Kali devotee was the chief guest at the rally and appealed to all the Hindu participants to vote for a Hindu leader. While addressing the mass Hindu crowd at the Teen Hatti Chowk ground in the town, Kalicharan Maharaj said that it is important for Hindus to become a crucial vote bank. “It is only this way that we can save the Hindu religion and our Sanatan Dharma,” he said.
Kalicharan Maharaj asks Hindus to become a ‘crucial vote bank’
According to Kalicharan Maharaj, out of the total Hindu population only 60% practice their right to vote however, all the eligible Muslims vote in the name of Islam. “Muslims at present act as a vote bank for the political leaders. They practice their voting right 100% while out of 100 Hindus only 60 vote. And out of those 60, only 30 vote for Hindutva. The rest have nothing to do with Hindu Rashtra. On the other hand all the Muslims vote in the name of Islam. They know the power of power and so aim to make India an Islamic nation,” Maharaj said.
He added that it is important for Hindus to understand the power of politics. Politics is the only way through which Hindustan can again become a Hindu Rashtra, he said. “At the time of 1947 partition, Pakistan was established because they (Muslims) wanted a separate nation, a Muslim nation. There is no place for Hindus there even today. But here in India, Hindus fight against Hindus, give lessons of secularism and invite Muslim leadership to rule over them. Hindus must vote for Hindutva and not for development or lower prices of rice and lentils. Once Hindu leader presides over the government, development and all your other needs will eventually be taken care of,” he added.
While saying this, he gave the example of Uttar Pradesh and said that the state is developing and growing as the leader ruling over the state is Hindu. “I dare you do something wrong there and bulldozers will be run over your homes. This is what a Hindu leader does. He does not tolerate nonsense and ensures justice is prevailed to all,” Kalicharan Maharaj stated.
Hindus in rally raised slogans like ‘Jai Shree Ram’, ‘Vande Mataram’
Love Jihad: ‘Hindu women must sense misdeed’, Kalicharan Maharaj
Further, demanding stricter laws against Love Jihad, he said that Hindu women must have the ability to sense the misdeed and that they should not fall prey to the Islamists wanting to convert them and ruin their lives. “It is a common practice in Islam to eliminate Kaafir to attain Jannat after death. And Kaafir is the one who does not follow Islam or Quran. These Islamists are taught to eliminate Kaafirs and abduct their wives (Hindu women). They call Hindu women ‘loot ka maal’ and share them. There are so many reports of gang rapes on Hindu women. They, 50 in number rape one woman and then force her to convert her religion to Islam. Yes, it has happened in Kashmir and many other states. This should stop and this is solely in the hands of Hindus,” he added.
He reiterated that Islamists want to make this country an Islamic nation and that they are partially attaining success in their aim. Blaming Hindus for the same, Maharaj said that Hindus must get together and do away with the caste and varna system. “We’ll save this country and our very own Hindu religion only if we all come together and stay together forever,” he stated. He meanwhile also lauded PM Modi for revoking section 370 from the former state of Jammu and Kashmir and said that no other leader would have been able to do this.
Farmers appealed not to sell their cows to slaughterhouses, offered Rs 1000 extra
The rally was also graced by RSS and senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Shankar Gaikar who raised his voice fiercely against the illegal conversion. He said that Islamists illegally convert lakhs of Hindus even today and try to weaken Hindu unity. “Their ultimate aim is to make this country an Islamic nation. And these people have been converting Hindus for thousands of years. This is not new. We Hindus need to take a vow now to protect our religion and also ourselves,” he said.
VHP leader Shankar Gaikar addressing the Hindu participants
He also commented on the cow slaughter issue and said that though there is a law against the act of slaughtering cows, the animals are being illegally transported and slaughtered. Meanwhile, Kalicharan Maharaj also added that cows are murdered by pouring hot boiling water on their skin and are then mercilessly stuffed in a huge truck. “We Hindus consider cow as God, we call her our mother. How can we see our mothers getting murdered,” Gaikar added.
The VHP leader said that stricter provisions should be included in the law against cow slaughter and the same should be implemented all over the state of Maharashtra. The VHP also announced a scheme for the farmers who sell their cows to slaughterhouses on becoming old. The VHP leader from Baramati said that under the scheme, farmers will be paid Rs 1000 extra to not sell their cows to the slaughterhouses. “NCP leader Ajit Pawar sealed 8 slaughterhouses in Baramati. But the slaughterhouses continue to operate illegally. We have received many complaints from the locals following which several memorandums have also been submitted to the Nagar Parishad. Since no action in the case is being taken, we have come up with a scheme for farmers who want to sell their old cows or buffaloes. We’ll pay Rs 1000 extra over the sale price to the farmers, but they should not give away their cows to slaughterhouses,” the leader said.
The rally began at 1 pm and covered the entire city before the chief guests addressed the gathering at the Teen Hatti Chowk area in Baramati. Several Hindu women also participated in the rally and demanded stringent laws against illegal religious conversion. The women could be seen holding placards that read, “Dharmantaran Bandi Kayda, Zalach Pahije (Law against conversion is must)” and “Tirthakshetranna paryatan sthalacha darja dena band kara (Hindu religious places are not tourist spots)”
Hindu women participants at the event
Several cases of Love Jihad reported from Baramati and nearby areas, says RSS leader Vivek Pandkar
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member Vivek Pandkar meanwhile talked to OpIndia to reveal that there are around 50 ongoing cases of Love Jihad reported from Baramati and nearby areas. He said that the rally was organized today to raise a united Hindu voice against Love Jihad, cow slaughter, and illegal forceful conversion.
“Hindus today have put up four crucial demands. We want a law against illegal religious conversion, law against cow slaughter, and a specific law against love jihad and we also want religious places be allowed to maintain their sanctity. Around 5000 Hindus participated in the rally,” he said.
Speaking specifically about the issue of Love Jihad, Pandkar said that it is worrisome that Hindu women all over the country are trapped by Muslim men and are then forced to convert their religion to Islam. “The recent Shraddha Walkar case is an example. The man cut her into 35 pieces and had no regrets. These Muslims are schooled to trap Hindus and ruin their lives to attain ‘Jannat’ post-death. They are told that by eliminating Hindus (Kaafir as they call it) they would meet 72 huurs (beautiful virgins) in the Jannat. The government needs to look into this and get the laws as soon as possible,” he added.
‘BJP diverting attention by giving importance to Love Jihad’, Ajit Pawar
It is important to note that the Leader of the Opposition from Baramati, Ajit Pawar had earlier stated that the ruling party in Maharashtra is trying to divert the attention of the citizens by unnecessarily giving importance to the issue of Love Jihad. He had said on January 23 that the BJP was trying to instigate poison in the society against one particular community to attain political benefits.
Also Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar had earlier said that BJP was raising the ‘communal issue’ to divert the people’s attention from inflation and unemployment. Pawar, while addressing media in Baramati had spoken on ‘love jihad’ and had said, “Those in power want to divert the attention from basic problems that are hurting interests of the common people and thus coming up with issues such as love jihad.” He had said this as BJP leaders in the state demanded to bring anti-conversion law in Maharashtra.
Notably, around 30 such ‘Hindu Jan Aakrosh Morcha’ rallies have been organized across Maharashtra to date. Thousands of Hindus gather at such rallies and demand the implementation of stringent laws against forceful religious conversion. Such rallies have been organized in over 20 districts, including Mumbai, Parbhani, Nanded, Ahmednagar, Kolhapur, Gadchiroli, Satara, Karad, Sangli, Solapur, Pune, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nagpur, Amravati, Hingoli, Buldhana, Kolhapur and Jalna.
The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has refuted claims by former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan that people from South Waziristan were involved in planning his assassination, Dawn reported.
In a press statement, TTP said that the war was against the security forces and intelligence agencies not against any political personality. TTP said its war was against the security forces and intelligence agencies, not against any political personality.
“We have received information that the head of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in a meeting with the party’s provincial spokespersons claimed an assassination attempt was being planned by the TTP and South Waziristan residents have been tasked with executing the task,” a TTP statement said.
It added that a similar baseless claim was made by some party members 10 days ago, according to Dawn. However, it warned politicians of attacks if they became part of the war.
Khan was attacked in Wazirabad on November 3 while he was leading the “Azadi March” against the PML-N demanding snap polls. The law enforcement agencies arrested suspect Naveed Meher from the site of the attack. The suspect also admitted to opening fire on the PTI leadership.
Earlier, Imran Khan had accused former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari of hatching a conspiracy to assassinate him by giving a contract to a terrorist outfit, Express Tribune newspaper reported.
Khan while holding a news conference from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore via a video link, termed the alleged conspiracy ‘Plan-C’ for which he accused Zardari of paying money to a terrorist outfit to carry out the assassination attempt, the Pakistan-based newspaper reported.
“Now they have made a Plan C, and Asif Zardari is behind this. He has loads of corruption money, which he loots from the Sindh government and spends on winning elections. He [Zardari] has given money to a terrorist outfit and people from powerful agencies are facilitating him,” Imran said, according to The Express Tribune Newspaper.
“This has been decided on three fronts and they will act soon,” he added. “I am telling you this because if something happens to me the nation should know the people who were behind this so that the nation never forgives them,” Khan said.
The first information report of the incident was lodged on November 7 under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. The probe into the assassination attempt on Imran Khan had been handed over to an anti-corruption officer, as per the sources within the JIT.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On February 7, Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad police took to Twitter to inform that they have arrested 10 youths for creating a ruckus by celebrating birthdays on the elevated road of Ghaziabad under the Indirapuram police station area. The police have also seized three vehicles. The group of youths were blocking the traffic by celebrating a birthday by dancing and cutting a cake when the police arrived and took them away.
थाना इंदिरापुरम पुलिस टीम द्वारा एलिवेटिड रोड पर गाडी खडी कर मार्ग अवरुद्व करते हुए लोगो की जान को खतरे मे डालकर केक काटने वाले 10 युवक गिरफ्तार, बरामद 03 गाडी सीज।@Uppolice@DCPTHindonGZBpic.twitter.com/oUPuPBBvkW
— POLICE COMMISSIONERATE GHAZIABAD (@ghaziabadpolice) February 7, 2023
According to the police, the arrested youths, namely Samiuddin, Sameer, Sahil, Aman Khan, Moon Ahmed, Farhan Ali, Khazr Khan, Hamza, Apfaan and Qasim, halted their cars in the middle of the road, blocking traffic. They were reportedly dancing to loud music, making videos, and cutting a cake on the bonnet of their parked car while celebrating a birthday, thus creating a ruckus and disrupting traffic on the signal-free stretch.
Notably, the accused youths namely Samiuddin, Sameer, Qasim, Sahil and Aman are Ghaziabad locals, while Moon Ahmed, Farhan Ali, Khazr Khan, Hamza, and Apfaan are residents of Delhi.
According to the police, the UP police’s cheetah patrol squad apprehend these individuals as soon as they received information that a group of people were causing disruption on the Ghaziabad elevated roadway. Cheetah police are a group of bike-riding cops who respond to events as soon as they are reported.
The Ghaziabad elevated road, inaugurated in March 2018, connects UP Gate on the Delhi-Ghaziabad border with Raj Nagar Extension in the Uttar Pradesh city, drastically cutting travel time and enhancing commuting comfort.
Regardless of the fact that police have issued several warnings and made regular arrests in the past, the disturbing and risky trend on the Hindon elevated road continues unabated. People stop their vehicles on the elevated road to take selfies, drink alcohol etc, causing disruption to traffic.
On February 5, a video shot on the elevated road of Ghaziabad went viral on social media wherein a group of men could be seen brandishing rifles while drinking alcohol, while loud music played from the car. Another video showed a man loading bullets into a rifle and firing in the air from the vehicle while driving.
In December last year, police arrested a man and two women for dancing and blocking the same road.
In September, 18 people were arrested, along with eight luxury vehicles, for reportedly throwing a birthday party on an elevated road and causing a commotion. They were also seen cutting a cake on the car’s bonnet while playing loud music.
Today is the birth anniversary of Telanga Kharia, the renowned tribal hero who embodied tribal autonomy, self-determination, and sovereignty. Between 1850 and 1860, Kharia led the movement against British brutalities and land alienation of tribal people in the Chotanagpur Region. He was born on February 9, 1806, in Gumla, Jharkhand. This unsung hero fought against colonial injustices and paved the way for Indian independence.
Kharia is also known for preparing the brewing ground for Birsa Munda‘s “Ulgulan” or revolt against the British and the Dikus– the outsiders.
Telanga Kharia was also known as ‘Budha Sher’ (old lion) because of his incredible power even at 50. Telanga is derived from the Kharia word ‘Teblega,’ which indicates someone with excellent oratory and leadership abilities. He became interested in social and political issues when visiting the palace of Nagvashi King of Ratu with his father Thuiyan Kharia, who worked as a storekeeper there. Kharia began his campaign against British oppression in 1849.
Image source: Divya Rashmi samachar
The tribals had their own traditional, autonomous form of self-governance for a long time, known as the Parha system. The British, who had established their rule over the Chotanagpur region, were threatening this traditional system. The tribals were now required to pay a tax known as ‘malgujari’ on the land they had been cultivating for centuries. They lived in misery, exploited by local zamindars and sahukars (money lenders) who worked hand in hand with the British. When they were unable to repay the loans, the sahukars confiscated their lands.
Enraged by the constant ill-treatment of his fellow tribesmen, Telanga Kharia started a full-fledged revolt against this oppressive system. He started recruiting people and creating awareness among them. He founded ‘Jodi Panchet’ (Jury Panchayats) at Gumla, Simdega, Sisai, Kolebira, and Chainpur, where he taught youths above the age of 20 how to use teer (arrow), bhala (speer), kulhadi (axe), barchi (harpoon), and pharsa (battleaxe).
Every hamlet had a Jodi Panchet that communicated when Britishers arrived. Due to their great organizational skills, the Britishers had a tough time locating them. Kharia amassed an army of approximately 1500 trained troops. He initiated a series of ambush operations against the British and their stooges using guerilla tactics.
Telanga Kharia waged an active revolt against the British in Chotanagpur from 1850 to 1860, launching attacks from his forest hideouts to evade detection. His followers launched many attacks and raids on the British, thereby challenging their control. When the British realized they had underestimated the tribals, they began to hunt for Kharia.
Unfortunately, one day, one of the Zamindar’s henchmen informed the British of his presence. The latter quickly encircled the Jury Panchayat which he had organized then and arrested him. He was initially brought to Lohardaga prison, and then relocated to Kolkata, where he was imprisoned for 18 years.
After his release from prison, he reconvened with his followers at the Sisai Akhara with the purpose of revitalizing the cause. The British planned to get rid of him as soon as the information reached them.
On April 23, 1880, Telanga Kharia was shot while offering daily prayers by a British agent named Bodhan Singh. Telanga’s followers buried his body in Gumla district’s Soso Neem Toli hamlet, ‘Telanga Topa Tand’ is the name of the burial site. Chotanagpur residents revere this location. Every year on this day, the people remember his martyrdom, and a week-long ‘Shahid Telanga Mela’ is organized.
Telanga Kharia is an inspiration for his bravery, sacrifice, and martyrdom for fighting against the mighty colonial power.
On Monday, February 6, parts of Turkey and Syria were rocked by a deadly earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter Scale. The earthquake has already claimed the lives of 17,000 people and thousands more have been left injured. Following the devastation left in the wake of the earthquake, the world community has stepped up to help Turkey. However, while most of the world is focused on helping Turkey, this has given an opportunity to scamsters as well.
Following the earthquake, Haluk Levent, a Turkish musician, met with the country’s financial watchdog to allow the set up of crypto wallets to collect donations to help in relief efforts. The donations started pouring in and soon, over $ 3 Million were collected in crypto donations by Wednesday morning. However, there was one problem, soon, fraudulent accounts started popping up on Twitter making a plea to donate money for Turkish victims.
Tweets like the one shared below started appearing everywhere, particularly in replies below the tweets of popular Twitter accounts, like Elon Musk for example.
The now deleted tweet says that the person is a student in Turkey and needs help, and goes on to share a Bitcoin address where people can send money.
Warning about such scams, Arda Akartuna, a senior cryptocurrency threat analyst at Elliptic, a blockchain and crypto analytics firm, said, “In situations where it’s clear that a Twitter account has started up on the same day as the earthquake, or has been active previously but changed its name, chances are in those situations it’s more likely than not to be a scam.”
Akartuna advised people to check the history of the account sharing a Bitcoin wallet address before proceeding with the donation. Checking the followers list, whether it is a new account set up just to seek donations in cryptocurrency or not, are all useful indicators as per Akartuna.
Despite the risk of fraud, many people prefer to donate in cryptocurrency because of the speed and ease of transfer.
BitMEX is one of those donating to Red Crescent for Turkey earthquake victims and their CEO said that they are doing it because of the ‘much much faster’ nature of transfer using cryptocurrencies.
Our thoughts are with all the people who have been affected by the tragic Turkey-Syria earthquake today.
BitMEX will be donating the proceeds of this week’s Trading Competition to the @RedCrescent, and we encourage those who can donate to do the same. #GeçmişOlsunTürkiye
While Turkey, and Syria, need help desperately in the wake of the devastating earthquake, and every mode of money transfer is acceptable, still, donors need to do a bit of diligence to ensure that they are not falling for fraud. Since cryptocurrency once transferred to a crypto wallet is not recoverable, it is better to check before making that transfer.
